Artwork
明 佚名 陳容(僞款) 九龍行雨圖 卷|Nine Dragons
明 佚名 陳容(僞款) 九龍行雨圖 卷|Nine Dragons is an ink painting. It dates from 1622 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The handscroll, titled “Nine Dragons,” presents a procession of nine serpentine creatures rendered in ink and color upon silk.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in ink and color on silk, the work reflects the iconography of dragons as emblems of authority and natural force within mythological narratives.
The handscroll portrays a mythic dragon winding through storm clouds and rain, a symbol of celestial power and seasonal renewal in Chinese tradition. Executed in ink and color on silk, the work reflects the iconography of dragons as emblems of authority and natural force within mythological narratives. Its composition emphasizes the fluid motion of the dragon amid rain, underscoring themes of cosmic balance and divine intervention.
The piece is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the collection of Chinese paintings.
Technique & Style
Executed as a handscroll in ink and polychrome pigments on silk, the work measures 39.7 cm in height by 292.7 cm in width. It portrays a mythic dragon rendered in a fluid, brush‑rich style characteristic of early seventeenth‑century Chinese painting. The composition unfolds across the scroll’s length, employing layered washes and delicate line work to suggest movement and atmospheric rain.
The handling of pigment and the subtle gradations of ink convey both atmospheric depth and a refined formal balance typical of the period’s scholarly handscroll tradition.
History & Provenance
The handscroll Nine Dragons, attributed to the anonymous 17th-century artist Chen Rong, is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was accessioned as 1975.176.1 and has been part of the museum’s collection since its acquisition. The work was featured in the 1975 exhibition "Chinese Painting and Calligraphy from the Weng Collection," which highlighted early Chinese paintings in the Met’s holdings.
Overview
The handscroll, titled “Nine Dragons,” presents a procession of nine serpentine creatures rendered in ink and color upon silk. Each dragon occupies a distinct position, some soaring through the air, others concealed behind billowing clouds, creating a sense of dynamic motion that guides the viewer’s eye along the length of the work.
Context
Created during a period when Chinese court painting embraced both native symbolism and influences from neighboring cultures, the piece reflects the era’s fascination with mythic subjects rendered in a decorative yet scholarly manner. The integration of dynamic composition with traditional motifs illustrates the broader artistic currents of the Song‑Yuan transition.
Artist & collection
